What Does the Establishment of the Greater Bengaluru Authority Mean for the City?

Bengaluru, Sep 2 (NationPress) In the face of opposition from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress-led government of Karnataka has declared the establishment of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), which officially commenced on Tuesday.

The process of ward delimitation for five new municipal corporations in Bengaluru city is set to conclude by November 1, with a reservation notification to follow by November 30.

During a press conference at Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday, Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar, who also oversees the Bengaluru Development portfolio, made this announcement.

"To guarantee citizen-centric services, enhance governance, and ensure effective scheme execution in Bengaluru, the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has been established, resulting in five new municipal corporations," he stated.

"September 2, 2025, marks a historic milestone for Bengaluru. Today, the five new municipal corporations are officially operational: Bengaluru Central City Corporation, Bengaluru North City Corporation, Bengaluru South City Corporation, Bengaluru East City Corporation, and Bengaluru West City Corporation. The law requires these corporations to retain the name of Bengaluru. On August 26, 2025, under the Chief Minister's leadership, the Greater Bengaluru Administrative Authority Committee was formed, appointing 75 members," Shivakumar elaborated.

"The Supreme Court has approved our affidavit. The final ward delimitation will be announced on November 1, followed by the reservation notification on November 30. Elections will take place subsequently. The State Election Commission is currently working on the voters' lists," he said.

"Officials have been assigned to each jurisdiction. Every corporation will have a Commissioner as the administrative head, supported by additional commissioners, joint commissioners, Karnataka Administrative Service officers, and a chief engineer. The previous 27 zones have expanded to 50, with 75 sub-zones increasing to 150. Each corporation may consist of up to 150 wards, averaging 100 wards per corporation, resulting in approximately 500 new local leaders throughout Bengaluru. Representation will be evenly split between men and women," Shivakumar added.

"Starting tomorrow, taxes collected within each corporation will be allocated directly to that corporation. Neither the GBA nor the state government will retain these funds. This is in compliance with the 74th Amendment of the Constitution. The corporations are independent entities," he stated.

"The GBA will prioritize the implementation of large-scale projects, uphold good governance, and deliver essential services. Government funding will be allocated to both the GBA and the corporations. Elections will proceed within the established legal framework. The city's current population is estimated at 1.44 crore. Previously, each ward represented approximately 20,000 residents; wards will now accommodate an average of 35,000 to 40,000," he continued.

"In the future, additional areas may be incorporated into the East, West, North, and South Corporations, but discussions on this matter will be postponed to avoid legal complications. For now, we have established five corporations within the existing municipal boundaries under the GBA. I extend my gratitude to all who supported this initiative. A ward in Anekal was previously excluded, and we have rectified that oversight," the Deputy Chief Minister stated.

"This is a landmark occasion for Bengaluru. In alignment with Rajiv Gandhi's vision of decentralization as outlined in the 74th Constitutional Amendment, the Greater Bengaluru Authority has been established. The 74th Amendment took effect in Karnataka on June 1, 1993. On January 16, 2007, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) was created with 198 wards. On September 22, 2024, a committee under B.S. Patil examined administrative reforms for Bengaluru, collecting thousands of public opinions and submitting nine reports. In 2015, a proposal to create three corporations was put forth but was withdrawn on July 26, 2019," he noted.

Shivakumar remarked: "Since the inception of our (Congress) government, we have aimed to establish the GBA, and on September 2, 2025, it has been realized. The Patil Committee, formed on July 18, 2023, submitted its report on July 12, 2024, leading to a draft notification. On July 25, 2024, the matter was presented in the Assembly. Following the Opposition's input, a Joint House Committee comprising 15 members, led by MLA Rizwan Arshad and including members from Congress, BJP, and JD-S, was established."

"After more than 15 meetings, amendments were approved in the Assembly on March 10, 2025, and in the Council on March 12, 2025, then sent to the Governor, who granted assent on April 23, 2025. The notification activated the GBA from May 15, 2025. On July 19, 2025, we announced the five corporations and sought public feedback for 30 days. After addressing 55 objections, ward boundaries were finalized and endorsed by the Governor," he added.

On November 1, groundwork will be initiated for new municipal buildings.

"All five must be constructed with a cohesive design. We are accepting architectural proposals, with a prize of Rs 5 lakh for the best design. Suggestions for the GBA logo are also encouraged," he mentioned.

When questioned about potential political motivations, Shivakumar responded, "This is for my personal fulfillment. I am serving the people and making history. This initiative is not politically motivated. Rajiv Gandhi envisioned leaders emerging from local governance to Parliament. Even now, around 10 MLAs from Bengaluru have previously served in municipal roles."